Can opener



jan. 13, 1925.

1,522,638 G. M. LIEBKNECHT CAN OPENER Filed Jan. 14 1924 i 1 \Z- E l al "i2 3-:

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IhvE nTun @Mii Eb Kn Echt .lwgw/MA A n rn By Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

STATES Lamas GEORGE M. LIEBKNECI-IT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed January 14, 1924. Serial No. 686,065.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE M. LIEB- Kivncr-rr, a citizen of the United States, and

a resident of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Openers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in means for opening hermetically sealed tin-containers for fruits, vegetables, and the like, preliminary to the removal therefrom of the contents.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of means, of simple and efficient character, whereby the tops of tin-containers may be safely and expeditiously cut out, or removed.

The invention comprises an encompassing inwardly flanged band, designed to fit the outer top surface of the ordinary hermetically sealed fruit or vegetable can, the flanged portion of which bears a radially disposed member to which is centrally and f pivotally secured an arm bearing a cutting blade of curved edge and a surface curved similar to that of the curvature of the cylindrical wall of the can and an arm extension fashioned as a handle and bearing a curved element adapted for prying or lifting, an anchorage blade formed from the body of the radially disposed member and of a curvature similar to that of the body of the can, and a hand-support provided with recessed sections for the reception and retention of the arm at the instant of adjustment to cans top.

In. the accompanying` drawings, forming a part of this speoication, and in which similar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout, Figure 1 is a top plan;

Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view,

sectioned, as viewed from 3, Figure 1; o Figure 4 is a sectional detail on line 4 4 of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is an elevational detail. y

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents a positioning member comprised of an encompassing band 2 bearing an inwardly extending flange 3, to

which is secured a radially disposed member 4 bearing an anchorage blade 14 formed from the body thereof, as at 13, and having centrally and pivotally secured thereto, as

at 9, an arm 5 provided with a plate 7 bearing a cutting blade 10 and a formed-up handle-extension 8 ending in a curved prying lip 15, a hand-support 11 recessed, as at 16, for the reception and retention of arm 5 at instant of placing member 1 in position on the can, and 6 beads, or flanges for reenforcing and stiffening those parts most liable to lleXure through pressure exerted thereupon.

Though but one curved cutting edge is shown for the blade 10, it is obvio-us that it may be made to carry two, rendering it possible to cut the can top with either a right or left sweep of the handle 8.

In operation, with the handle 8 and its arm 5 occupying the dotted-in position shown in Figure 1, the member 1 is placed about the top of the can with the points of the anchorage and cutting blades resting upon the surface of the cans top. A downward thrust upon member 1 while in this position forces the points of the blades 10 and 14 through the cans top near the upper edge of its curved surface, after which the necessary sweep is given to arm 5 and its attached blade 10 to accomplish the clean cutting of approximately a complete circle within the cans top and the top edge of the wall thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a can-opener of the character described, an encompassing right-angularly and inwardly flanged member adapted to tit and rest upon the top of a can, a radially arranged member secured to said flanged member and bearing a hand-support, an arm bearing a cutting blade and a handle centrally and pivotally secured to said radially arranged member, and recessed sections borne by said hand-support for the reception and retention of said arm preliminary to adjustment of-said can-opener to the top of a can.

2. A can opener, comprising a positioning element, anchorage means on said element, a cutting element movably mounted on said first mentioned element, and means on one of said elements for holding the cutting element in its initial cutting position adjacent the anchorage means.

3. A can opener comprising a positioning member adapted to rest on a can top and provided with can engaging means, anchorage means on said member, a cutting element 4pivoted to said member, a hand Support on said member and ine'ans onv said hand support for holding the cutting element adjacent the anchorage means.

4. A can opener comprising a 'positioning member adapted to rest on a can top and provided With can engaging means, an anchorage blade on said member, a cutting element pivoted vto said member, a hand support on said member and means on 'said hand support for holding the cutting element adjacent the anchorage blade.

5. A can opener comprising a positioning member adapted to rest' on a can top and provided With a can engaging flange, an anchorage blade on said member, a cutting 'e'leni'ent 'pivoted ito 'saidmember, a hand supportzon said member adjacent the anchorage blade, said hand support having a recess adapted to `hold the cutting element in its initial position.

GEORGE M. LIEBK-NECHT. 

